The Cyclones (20-22, 4-8) start a tough stretch of games that includes two doubleheaders on consecutive days followed by hitting the road for a weekend series against Baylor.

First up is a doubleheader against South Dakota State on Tuesday.

“We’re at that time where it’s just good to play the game,” said ISU coach Stacy Gemeinhardt.

“It’s just as good to play the games as it is to practice. [We have] two great days with a lot of opportunities to play, and I think that’s exciting.”

The Cyclones are coming off of a weekend split with No. 22 Oklahoma. The Cyclones have now split their last three series against ranked opponents, with all games started by junior pitcher Alyssa Ransom.

Stephanie Mosley is coming off of her best game of the season, collecting three hits in the loss to Oklahoma on Sunday.

“Our practices have been short and not as strenuous,” Mosley said. “And before every game, you want to mentally prepare yourself and physically prepare yourself, and we’re going to treat them like every other game and hopefully bring home some wins.”

South Dakota State has lost eight of its last 12 games. It has also spent a good part of the last month on the road, playing several doubleheaders.

“It’s going to be a long week,” said catcher Ashley Killeen. “We have four games Tuesday and Wednesday, and then go to Baylor, so it will be a draining week, and then we have finals and everything else with school. We just have to refocus and do the best we can with it.”

The season is starting to wind down, and the team is getting in stride with its hitting and can give its pitchers runs to work with, scoring 30 hits in its last four games.

Killeen is among several Cyclones aiding the offense, as she recently moved into third in ISU history in runs batted in. With Fallon Johnson and Kristy Olsen getting on base at a regular pace, they allow Killeen, pitcher Katie Reichling, Jessica Quade and Jennifer Bigbee chances to drive in runs almost every time they are at the plate.

The games against South Dakota State start at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Southwest Athletic Complex.